Digging angle adjustment for endless belt excavators



DIGGING ANGLE ADJUSTMENT FOR ENDLESS BELT EXCAVATORS "3o (O V '.0 ,o /Q to Inventor m N) LO (D l0 Wiliam' Zwama/.9*

Atlorneys April 28, 1953 W, Tl-{O/IAS 2,636,288

DIGGING ANGLE ADJUSTMENT FOR ENDLESS BELT EXCAVATORS Filed Jan. 5l, 1947 1l Sheets-Sheet 2 29 .fl-4x I ql? LC) I l A tlorlleys April 28, 1953 w. THOMAS 2,636,288

DIGGING ANGLE ADJUSTMENT FOR ENDLEISS BELT EXCAVATORS Filed Jan. 3l, 1947 l1 Sheets-Sheet .3

A tto rneys w. THOMAS 2,636,288 DIGGING ANGLE ADJUSTMENT FOR ENDLESS BELT EXCAVATORS April 28, 1953 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 5l, 1947 A tto rney:

April 28, 1953 w. THOMAS 2,636,288

DIGGING ANGLE ADJUSTMENT FOR ENI-)LESS BELT EXCAVATORS Filed Jan. 5l, 1947 l?, Sheets-Sheet 5 A flo rlleyx W. THOMAS April 28, 1953 DIGGING ANGLE ADJUSTMENT FOR ENDLESS BELT EXCAVATORS 1l Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 3l, 1947 I n L ell/In Allorney:

W. THOMAS April 28, 1953 .DIGGING ANGLE ADJUSTMENT FOR ENDLESS BELT EXCAVATORS 1l Simeeros--SheerI 7 Filed Jan. 3l, 1947 W. THOMAS April 28, 1953 1l Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Jan. 3l, 1947 Im'eular A No rneys April 28, 1953 w. THOMAS 2,636,288

DTGGTNG ANGLE ADJUSTMENT FOR ENDLEss BELT ExcAvAToRs Filed Jan. 3l, 1947 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 A Ho rn ey:

w. THOMAS April 28, 1953 DIGGING ANGLE ADJUSTMENT FOR ENDLESS BELT EXCAVATORS 1l Sheets-Sheet l0 Filed Jan. 5l, 1947 Inventor s a m. o f m m W A No ru ey:

W. THOMAS April 28, 1953 DIGGTNG ANGLE ADJUSTMENT FOR ENDLEss BELT ExcAvAToRs Filed Jan. 51, 1947 11 Sheets-Sheet l1 Inventor am fF/wwzaasA` Figure 18 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the apparatus as seen in 'Figure 9;

Figure 19 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line I9-l9 of Figure l;

Figure 20 is a side elevational View, similar to Figure 1 showing the apparatus applied to an amphibious vehicle: i 1

Figure 21 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical section of the forward portion of a modified form of the apparatus for use n a boat or barge and for use in dredging a stream bed or the bottom of another body of water;

Figure 22 is a detailed sectional .view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 22--22 of Figure 21;

Figure 23 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified form of digging apparatus by means of which the digger operates on a larger area;

Figure 24 is a side elevational view of an endless conveyor apparatus for usefinconjunction with a sluice boX for catapulting' the tailings away from the apparatus; v

Figure 25 is a cross sectional view thereof taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 25--25 of Figure 24, and

Figure 26 is a detailed View of a detachable locking means for holding the excavator or digger in an operative position.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, and first with reference to the form of the invention as illustrated in Figures 1 to '8, inclusive, the numeral 21 designates a tractor or other yehicle provided with a platform 28 and a suitable prime mover or engine 29 having a transversely disposed power take-off shaft 3 3. The placer mining, mining and dirt moving apparatus in its entirety is generally designated 3l and includes a `pair of supporting arms 32 which are pivotally mounted on the tractor 21 coaxially with the shaft 30. The supporting arms 32,0ne of which is located adjacent each side of the tractor .21, are each provided with a forked outer end including a plurality of divelfging arms 33 which are detachably' connected at, their extremities-to the side edges of the intermediate portions of arrendless conveyorframe34 'having shafts 135 and 36 journaled transversely of the ends'thereof, Each of the shaftsA 35 and 3B c arries two sprocket wheels 31 which are disposed between the side rails of the frame 34 and which 'sprocket wheels are in 'alignment' to receive endless. chains 38 which are trained thereover and disposed longitudinally of said frame 34. The chains 38 support a plurality of longitudinally spaced buckets 39 each of which is secured at its ends to thetwo chains 38 and which buckets diverge outwardly from the chains in the direction of rotation thereof, as indicated by the arrow 40 in Figure 1. The buckets 39 are provided at their outer, leading edges with digging teeth 4|. and said buckets combine with the ,chains 3S to lform an endless conveyor and digger. n

As seen in Figure l, a sprocket wheel 42 is keyed to one end of the shaft 35, which is disposed at the upper or rear end of the frame 34 and in alignment with a sprocket wheel 43 keyed to the shaft 30. An endless chain 44 is trained over the sprocket wheels 42 and 43 -for driving the endless conveyor 38, 39 from the prime mover or engine 29 in the direction as indicated by the arrow 4U. f

It will be readily apparent that similar sprocket wheels could be mounted on the opposite endsA of the shafts '30 and 35 to receive asecongl chain for 4 driving the shaft 35 from both sides of the endless conveyor if desired.

A hydraulic cylinder 45 is pivotally mounted at its rear closed end on a bracket 46 which is secured to the rear end of the platform 28 and has a piston rod 4l projecting slidably through the forward end thereof and which is provided with a piston 48 which is slidably disposed within the cylinder 45, .asbest seen in Figure 7. The forward end of the cylinder 45 is provided with a suitable stuffing box 49 through which the piston rod 41 reciprocally extends and has a feed conduit 5D communicating with the cylinder, adjacent said forward end, and which is adapted to be connected to any suitable source of hydraulic pressure. The opposite, forward end of the Diston rod 41 is pivotally connected to a rod or shaft 5I, as seen in Figure 3, which extends between the arms 32 and obviously, if desired, a second hydraulic cylinder could be utilized with the Diston rod thereof connected to the shaft 5i adjacent the opposite side of the conveyor frame 34. The cylinder and piston combination combine to provide a hydraulic ram whereby, when pressure is applied thereto, the endless conveyor will be moved from its operative position of Figure 1 upwardly and rearwardly to substantially a horizontal, inoperative position as seen in Figure 2, in which latter position the endless conveyor is adapted to be disposed when the apparatus 3l is being moved from place to place portably on the tractor 2l.

As best seen in Figures 1 and 19, a pair of bearing supports, each designated'generally 52 is provided for the shaft 36 when'the endless conveyor is in its operative position ofFigure 1. Each bearing support 52 includes a pair of screws 53 and 54 vwhich are adjustably connected in spaced end-to-end relationship by a turnbuckle sleeve j55 which is interposed therebetween and which threadedly engages the adjacent ends of the screws 53 and 54'. The outer end of the screw 53 is pivotally connected at 55 to the tractor 21, and the outer end of the screw 54 is provided with an arcuate bearing member 56 in which an end of the shaft 33 is journaled, so that the two adjustable bearings 52 eifectively combine to journal and support the lower end of the endless conveyor when in an operative position. The adjustable bearing units 52 may be removed when the endless conveyor is disposed in its inoperative position of Figure 2.

The endless conveyor 38, V39 may also be further braced in its operative position by means of a pair of adjustable brace units each designated generally 5'! andv each comprising a threaded socket 58 for` adjustably receiving a screw 59 having a locking nut 63. The outer, lower end of each socket 53 is pivotally connected to a bracket 6l which rises from the platform 28 and the outer end-of each screw 5S is provided With an eye 32 for receiving an end of the rod or shaft 5l, so that said brace units 5l will combine with the hydraulic ram or rams for effectively maintaining the endless conveyor in its operative position of Figure 1.

A standard 63 is supported and rises from the platform 28 rearwardly of the endless conveyor when in its operative position of Figure 1. The standard 63, as best seen in Figures 5 and 6, includes a post 64 havingA a spherical upper end 65 which seats in a downwardly opening socket 8S of a head 6l of the standard 63. The lower portion of the socket 66 loosely surrounds the upper part of the post 64, and is provided with 7. a worm gear 86 and a second shaft 83 and worm 85 could be utilized for driving the endless conveyor at both sides of its lower end. Also, the vehicle 21a maybe provided with endless traction members or half tracks as illustrated in Figure 18 in lieu of the Wheels as seen in Figures 9 and 10. Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 illustrate a conveyor adapted to be used in lieu of the sluice box for conveying dirt away from either the tractor 21 or the vehicle 21a when the apparatus 3| or 3|a is employed as a digging and dirt moving means. The endless conveyor, designated generally 92 includes a yoke shaped head, designated generally 93 having a depending socket 94, corresponding to the socket 66 and which is adapted to receive the spherical upper end 65 of the standard post 64 and to be secured thereto by set screws 95, corresponding to the set screws 68. The yoke shaped head 93 is provided with spaced upturned portions forming bearings 06 each having a separable upper sectionl 91. The bearings 96 are adapted to journal a shaft 901 driven by a suitable motor 99 supported on a platform |00 forming an extension of the yoke 93. However, if desired, the shaft 08 may be driven by other power means through connection to a belt pulley thereof. The endless conveyor 02 also includes longitudinally extending frame members |02 which extend outwardly from the bearings 0B and in the free ends of which an idler shaft |03 is `iournaled. A belt pulley or roller |04 is keyed to the shaft 98, between the bearings 96 and side members |02 and a similar belt pulley |05 is mounted on the shaft |03 between said side members |02. An endless conveyor belt |06 is trained over the pulleys |04 and |015 and is disposed between upstanding side wall members |01 which project upwardly from' the frame members |02 and by means of which dirt or other matter conveyed and discharged onto the upper flight of said belt will be prevented from falling laterally therefrom. The frame sides |02, at a point spaced from the post 64, are each provided with a depending supporting arm or standard |08 which may be anchored at its lower end, not shown, to either the platform 28 or platform 28a. The endless conveyor 92 may be of any desired length and it will be readily understood that dirt dug and conveyed by either the endless conveyor 39, 4| or 39a, 4|a maybe discharged onto the upper flight of the endless conveyor belt |06 and which is moving in a direction away from the yoke 03, for conveying the earth or dirt outwardly of the vehicle on which the structure is mounted and for discharging it at any desired distance therefrom, depending upon the length of the conveyor 92. A slightly modified form of yoke, designated generally 93a and illustrated in Figure 14 may be utilized as a part of the endless conveyor 92. The yoke 93a differs from the yoke 03 in that it is provided with a depending bifurcated and apertured portion |09 to receive a restricted apertured extension |0 of a head l I l mounted on the upper end of a post ||2 which may be employed in lieu of the post 64. A bolt and nut fastening ||3 extends through the apertures of the furcations |00 and through the aperture of the extension ||0 for adjustably mounting the yoke 03a on the post I2 and so that said yoke may be adjusted to any angle and so secured by tightening the fastening H3.

Figures 15, 16 and 17 illustrate a revolving grizzly or separator for use with the sluice box 10 and which is designated generally y||4 and includes spaced shafts ||5 `and H6 which are journaled in bearings ||1 which are securedA to ,y

the upper edges of the side walls 13 of the sluice box 10. The shafts ||5 and ||6 are disposed transversely of the sluice box 10 and each have a pair of spaced sprocket wheels I3 keyed thereto and with the sprocket wheels of the two shafts in alignment for receiving endless chains ||9 which are trained thereover. A suitable driving connection, not shown, is provided, as for example between the prime mover 20 and the shaft ||5 for driving the chains ||9 so that the upper flight thereof will move in a direction away from the end wall 11 of the sluice box 10. Correspondingly disposed links of the chains ||9 are connected at relatively close intervals by transversely disposed bars |20 which are mounted in any suitable manner to the outer sides of said chains and which are spaced a distance apart so that stones or other large objects discharged from the digger conveyors 39, 4| or 39a, 4m will lodge on the bars or rods |20 and be thereby separated from the normal tailings and precious metals which, as then unseparated, will drop between the bars |20 and into the sluice box 10 to be conveyed therealong by the liquid discharge from the nozzle 00, as previously described. The stones or other larger objects lodged on the upper night of the chains and rods or bars will be conveyed therealong and discharged from the end of the conveyor or separator I4 which is remote to the end wall 11 and beyond the end of the sluice box 10 from which the tailings are discharged, so that it will be readily obvious that the separating apparatus ||4 may be made of any desired length. A spray head |2| is preferably located above a portion of the conveyor chains and rods or bars H9, |20 and is connected by a conduit |22 to the same source of water supply as the nozzle so that the water discharged therefrom will be sprayed onto the upper iiight of the chains and bars or rods for separating the earth and precious metals from the stones or other objects lodged on said bars and for causing said earth and precious metals to drop into the sluice box.

Figure 20 illustrates the apparatus, designated generally 3|, mounted on an amphibious vehicle designated generally |23 and including a buoyant hull |24 having recesses to receive depending wheels |25 by means of which the amphibious vehicle |23 may move on land, supported by the wheels |25 or through a body of water, supported by the hull |24. The apparatus as illustrated in Figures 1 to 8 is shown mounted on the deck |26 fof the hull |24 and the prime mover 2S thereof may also be utilized as the prime mover of the amphibious vehicle |23. 'I'he amphibious .vehicle |23 is especially adapted for use in shallow streams certain parts of which are too deep for a normal land vehicle and other parts of which are too shallow for a boat or barge.

Figure 1 illustrates a portion of a slightly modified form of the apparatus, designated generally 3|b and which is adapted to be mounted on the deck |21 of a boat or barge |28 which, may also be an amphibious vehicle if desired and which is especially adapted for use in deeper water. The prime mover 20h of the apparatus 3|b may also be utilized for propelling the boat or barge or amphibious vehicle |28 and may drive' the conveyor digger structure either in the manner as illustrated in Figures 1 to 8, or as illustrated in Figure 9. The endless conveyor frame 34h is supported by the arms 32D and 33h in the samemanner as in Figures 1 to 8 and 9 may be connected either .toa hydraulic ram or screw adjustment means als-.illustrated in Figure 1 or Figure 9, respectively.A Theendless chains 38h differ from the chains 38 in that they are considerably longer .so .that the.. lower flight thereof will hang. loose and will depend through a recess |29 in the forward end of the boat or barge |23 andgto. a substantial. depth so that the buckets 39bwill pick upearth from the bottom or bed |3l.of.a bodyef waterv |3| as dredged by the diggerblades .4|b.. Qbv'iously, the chains 38h may beimadeof any `length for-accommodate ing the dredging apparatus 3|b to bodies of water of any depth and excess slack in the chains will not materially reduce the eiiiciency thereof. With theapparatus as illustrated in Figure 21, it will thus be readily apparent that mining operations can be efficiently and economically accomplished in the beds of relatively deep bodies of water. The connection between the arm 33b and the conveyor frame 34h preferably includes bolts |32 and cotter pins |33 to facilitate disassembling of the apparatus 3|b and the rod or shaft 5|b is preferably detachably connected to the arm 32h by additional cotter pins |33.

Figure 23 illustrates a modified construction of the apparatus, designated generally 3|c and including a frame 34o which is generally triangular in shape in side elevation and in each of the two lower corners of which is journaled a shaft 36e over which the endless chains 38e are trained so that said chains and the buckets 39e, carried thereby, after passing over the upper sprocket wheels 3`|c move almost directly downwardly, under the lower and rearmost sprocket 31e of the lower, rearmost shaft 33C and thereafter generally outwardly and upwardly and under the sprocket wheels 31o at the lower, forward end of the frame 34o. The endless conveyor and digging apparatus as thus disclosed in Figure 23 is adapted for digging and conveying from a relatively large zone, substantially as defined by the distance between the outer portions of the lower sprocket wheels 37o. The frame 34e may be provided with idler rollers |34 supported by arms |35 for supporting the chains 38o in their movement between the sprocket wheels 3'lc to prevent said chains from being forced upwardly or inwardly relatively to the frame 34a by engagement of the diggers 4|c and buckets 39o with the earth or other material, not shown, which is being dug and conveyed thereby.

The frame 34e is supported by arms 32o and 33o differing principally from the arms 32 and 33 in that the arms 32o are substantially shortened. The chains 38o are driven by a sprocket 42e keyed to the shaft 35e thereof and over which is trained an endless Chain 44o which is likewise trained over a sprocket 43o keyed to the shaft 30C of the prime mover 29o of an amphibious vehicle, land vehicle or boat |36. The vehicle |36 may be either of the trailer type or the prime mover 29o may also constitute the prime mover thereof. The diggings from the buckets 39o are discharged into a sluice box of the same construction as the sluice box '10, previously described, and which is similarly supported for receiving the diggings in the same manner, either with or without the separating apparatus as illustrated in Figure l5.

The conveyor frame 34e may be supported by a hydraulic ram, not shown, the piston rod 47o of which is preferably pivotally connected at |31 to the frame 34e, or a screw adjustment means such as .illustrated in Figure 9 maybe utilized for raising and lowering vthe endless conveyor framev to mining stream beds, that tailings not be discharged back into the stream. In order to avoid extending the sluice box 10 to too great a length, a conveying and catapulting apparatus, as illustrated in Figures 24 and 25 and designated generally |38 maybe provided. The apparatus |38 includes a frame |39 composed of side walls and an inner end wall and in which side walls are journaled'a power shaft'l4'0 `and an idler shaft |4|. The power shaft |40 is preferably disposed adjacent the inner ends of the frame |39 and the idler shaft |4| is located adjacent the outer end thereof. Said shafts have belt pulleys or rollers |42 keyed thereto over which is trained an endless belt |43 having spaced, laterally disposed and outwardly projecting slats |44. The belt pulley |42 of the shaft |46 is disposed in and the endless conveyor |43 extends through an opening |45 in the lower portion of the inner end wall of the frame |39. The frame and endless conveyor is supported preferably in an outwardly and upwardly inclined position relatively to the deck or platform |46 of a boat, barge or vehicle |41 by means of the brace rods |43 and |49 which are pivotally or rigidly connected at their lower ends to brackets |50 secured to the deck or platform |46. The upper end or ends of the braces or supports |48 are preferably journaled on the shaft |40 and the upper ends of the braces |49 are secured to the side walls |39, intermediate of the ends of the latter. The shaft |40 is adapted to be driven at a high rate of speed either by its own source of power, not shown, or by a driving connection, not shown, to the prime mover of the remainder of the apparatus, such as the prime mover 29. The discharge end 18 of the sluice box l0 is disposed to open into the frame |39, near the inner wall thereof and above the upper flight of the endless conveyor or belt I 43. The tailing is discharged from the discharge end 18 or conveyed by the upper night of the belt |43 in a direction toward the outer, open end of the frame |39 and at a high rate of speed so that the slats |44 will catapult the tailings outwardly from the vehicle |41 to a considerable distance.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claim. l

s I claim as my invention:

The combination in a mining and dirt moving machine having a driven endless conveyor and digger supported on a mobile supporting structure for swinging movement relatively to the supporting structure between an inclined-operative position and a horizontal inoperative position and including a transversely disposed shaft located at one end of the endless conveyor, of an adjustable thrust bearing for supporting the lower end of the conveyor in an inclined-operative position and at different angles and elevations, said thrust bearing having an inner end pivotally connected to an end of the supporting structure for swinging movement in a vertical plane and having an outer-forward end provided with an arcuate bearing element having a forwardly facing concave surface bearing against and journalling said transverse shaft for supporting the conveyor in an inclined position, said thrust bearing including extensibly connected end sections for varying the 11- eiigth thereof to support; the @umass conveyor in inclined positions ai; different angles and with its Iowr end at int eovotions.'

WELIAM THOMAS.

Reim-ences Cited inthenle ot this patent T STATES PA'I'E'IS 12 Name Date Proctor x..-.--..-...... May 21, 1907 Huelsdonk...---...-.. May 11, 1909 Seberg July 19, 1910 Ktismin'.h Apr. 16, 1912 Jackson Dec, 3, 1912 Holley -..1., Feb. 28, 1922 Barber Sept. 17, 1929 Robb July 15, 1930 Penote Jan. 19, 1932 Zlholneks Aug. 13, 1946 Ryan Nov. 30, 1948 

